Slightly Freaked Out, Anyone Have This Happen?

[azmusiclover]

We went to Vegas for a trip, just got back Monday. I had a great time, minus a couple of things. We flew and I was ok on the flight, which is a big step for me. I had a small amount of alcohol, my first in awhile. Was fine. Played poker for a couple days, had some late late nights. By Friday (we arrived Wednesday) I was pretty tired, but hanging in there. I was in a poker tournament with a friend of mine sitting directly to my left, who routinely engages in medicinal pot. I had my card last year but then I had a pretty significant reaction to it, so I don't get near it now. About 4 I started to feel bad, so my husband and I went back to our hotel room. My legs were HUGE swollen.... I have never had problems with that. I was feeling like I may be starting a reaction, so we hopped in a cab and headed to the hospital. By the time we got there, I was feeling very nauseous and coughing and itching, so they hustled me in the back and gave me a shot of epi. Redness went down, but then of course I was super tachy, and they loaded the benadryl in the IV and that made me feel really nauseous again. They also gave me a bag of fluids, which helped. Left there around 8pm. Felt rough the next day or so. Am on steroids until Weds now and wondering if I should try to move my appointment up at Mayo with the allergist. I have no idea if it was from just sitting next to my friend who reeked of pot, or if it was the very small sip of tequila I had. Those were the only differences around that time... or was it from getting really swollen? Can blood pooling cause an allergic type reaction? I am definitely going to bring this up with Dr Rank when I see him because if I have a mast cell thing going on, I want to know what I need to do, or at least get a full list of ALL that I am allergic to and must avoid. Is this similar to what you guys with MCAS/D deal with? Does this sound familiar to anyone?

Now, I am all paranoid I am just going to have random reactions and not know what they are to!!! ACK.

[Mytwogirlsrox]

Not sure about what your asking.. But how scary! Big hugs! I think I recall you previously posting about this trip. I'm glad you went and had a great time Pre-allergic episode. How bizzare... Do you have any allergies? I see you were dx with POTS in 99. Have you ever had issues like this? Could they be connected?

[arizona girl]

Well the itching part sounds like a reaction and a reaction in an unfamiliar environment is always possible, but who can say what triggered it.

However, the swollen legs sounds like pooling from being upright so long. Then you add a bit of the to kill ya and your vasodialating, which then can cause a drop in bp and nausea.

These are what I call my episodes and they seem to happen when I'm out of my element, have stressed my body, been upright and tried to have a drink. It just happened to me a month ago, had a half a glass of wine and tanked.

I probably also did not have enough fluids, and alcohol is a diruretic, which only added to the problem.

Glad you had fun, sometimes we have to way and prepare to deal with the aftermath, when we really want to do something. Sometimes the having fun part and or a special occasion or person is worth it, even when we know we are going to pay for it later.

Not sure you will get to move your appointment up with Dr. Rank, mayo doesn't always work that way, but worth a try.

[azmusiclover]

I figured the swollen legs were pooling. The next day I played in a tournament and I had my legs propped up on a chair next to me. Told them it was medically necessary. It totally helped. I rarely drink, and I had been super hydrated so I would be surprised that a small sip of alcohol would cause me to react but you never know! I've had reactions to all sorts of things over the last year or so. It's weird to me that it happened there because it is an environment that I am very comfortable in. I know all the staff and the place isn't "new" and the group is kind of like a big weird family reunion. I used to work in various casinos and the poker table is one place that I have always been able to relax and not feel sick. (oh and only a couple people asked how I was, so apparently I didn't look too different! phew)

I guess part of what I am asking is, can blood pooling cause you to have a reaction to the point that your body thinks it's an allergy? Is that what happens with POTS and if there is MCAS going on? I see Dr Rank in three weeks, so I doubt they will move it up, which is fine. I'll just get my records from the ER and we can talk about testing me for allergies and all the stuff that Dr. Goodman ordered.

[azmusiclover]

Mytwogirlsrox, I have TONS of allergies. Levaquin, Zithromax, Doxycycline, Hops, Christmas trees, cats, pot, bees, strawberries, (these all cause severe reactions) and who knows what other environmental and food allergies that I have. When I was a kid I was literally allergic to everything except rice and carrots. Now, I can't eat rice because of my tummy issues, and I am running out of choices of things that don't make me feel sick. I am having the food allergy panel done to check for the delayed reactions, not just the immediate ones. I have horrible bloating, pain when eating etc. I've lost almost 25 pounds and am getting to the point that I am underweight. Of course, the bloat doesn't allow me to enjoy my trimmer shape Working toward figuring all this out....